Vacuum fountain



Nov. 14, 1933. R R MOKLER 1,935,159

VACUUM FOUNTAI N Original Filed July 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /J U Invenlor J21 Jim/2192" flmaalizw A llorney R. R. MOKLER VACUUM FOUNTAIN Nov. 14, 1933.

Original Filed July 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlor A llomcy Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES VACUUM FOUNTAIN Russell Mokler, Anacortes, Wash.

Application July 23, 1930, Serial No. 470,047

Renewed July 15, 1933 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 1376 8) This invention relates generally to vacuum .means for delivering and controlling the flow of liquid in tanks, such as is used in a stock waterer, oil feeder reservoir for force feed oilers, as automatic filler for a liquid fuel reservoir for burners of oil stoves and the like, and means to control and feed the oil and maintain the oil level in engine lubricators and internal combustion crank cases, and to act as dispensing apparatus for gasoline and lubricating oils and the like in a gasoline dispensing station, as a water feeder for trees, plants and other irrigation projects and to act as a control for the fuel level in light houses, railway switch lamps, .etc. A very valuable use has been found for a device of this character in maintaining the level of the fluid in batteries used in submarines.

The invention particularly relates to a reservoir tank providedwith a level indicating means,

a filler tank, aqdelivery pipe, and a pipe equipped with means to produce avacuum in the upper part of the tank and control theoutflow therefrom by means of the vacuum. I An object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described, which is very effective and satisfactory in operation, said efficiency proceedingfrom a new andnovel combination and a composition of parts, which is cheap to manufacture and is strong, and which can be adjusted to various uses.

These and other objects and the nature of the invention, its construction and composition, and. combination and arrangement of parts will be understood by anyone acquainted with the art '35 to which this invention relates by consulting the on the line 2- -2 of'Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a top sectional View on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view in elevation and of one of the elements of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the filler caps construction. 1 i It is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limit the application of this invention to the particular modification herein set forth but that any changes may be made in material and arrangement and structure, comprised within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5 represents a tank of substantially cylindrical form having a, drain cock 16, a filler pipe head '7 having a closure 8, said pipe '7 being located centrally of the top portion 9 of the tank and having depending therefrom into the tank a U-shaped pipe 10 having its open end 10a below the top 9 and adapted'to convey liquid into the interior of the tank 5. The tank 5 is provided leakproof and capable of holding a vacuum. On one side of the tank is mounted a glass 11 having an elbow 12 open at its end. I A support for the upper end of the glass 11 is provided as at 13 and the lower end'of the glass 11 is coupled to a pipe 14 by means of a coupling nut 15.: The pipe 14 is bent as shown in Figure '1 to provide a liquid seal, and has a portion 14a extending through the side of the tank and depending inside the tank to a point near the bottom. r

In the opposite side of the tank from the glass 11 and'leading from the top of the tank is a pipe 16 having at its lower enda bell formation 1'7 will be subsequently described. On the same side of the tank as the pipe 16 is a valved pipe 18 provided with a barrel 19. The pipe 18 extends into the tankand has abent portion 20 to form a liquid. seal. The numeral 21 designates a tank or a like liquid holding receptacle into which the pipe 18 is emptied. The bell portion of the pipe 16 is disposed within and near the top of said tank 21.

Figure 5 showsa detail of the closure cap and filler head of the pipe 10 with which the cap 8 is shown hinged as at 8a to a collar 7 which is attached to the projecting portion of the pipe 10. The reinforcing flange is disposedexteriorly of the tank head 9 and surrounds the pipe 10 to form an airtight connection. A similar collar 10b cooperates with the pipe 16 where fastened tothe tank head 9.

Referring to Figure 4 a detail of the bell portion 17 of the pipe 16 shows its particular formation. The formation of the bell portion is such to perform a function to be hereinafter set forth.

It is provided with slots in its lower end 17a also for a purpose to be set forth herein.

The functioning of this device is as follows.

- To fill, the valve 19 is set in closed position and "tank, and the same registers at the top of the glass 11 and any excess will flow from the end 12 thereof. The cap 8 is replaced and the valve 19 is opened. The fountain thereupon starts to operate and the liquid flows through the outlet pipe 18 into the funnel 21a of the receptacle 21 of suitable type, until the liquid rises in said receptacle and covers the lower end 17 of the pipe 16 disposed therein, thus closing off the inrushing air from said pipe end 17.

This stoppage of inrushing air in the pipe 16 causes the formation of vacuum in the upper part of the tank 5 and causes the stopping of flow of liquid from the pipe 18. The double bent portion of pipe 18 acts as a liquid seal to prevent air from working its way into the tank. 'A

similar liquid seal 14 is provided for the glass 11 to prevent any passage of air into the tank from the open end of said gage indicated at 12.

With this arrangement in case ,of the breaking of the gage glass the liquid will not now entirely from the tank and the gage glass may be replaced without serious loss of liquid.

The pipe 11 on the contiguous side of the tank is provided with graduations for indicating the contents of the tankso as to provide a ready means for ascertaining the amount of liquid necessary to fill the tank. A bell formation 17 is provided on the lower end of the air intake pipe to prevent the rising of the liquid from the receptacle therein. The slots 17a result in cutting oii the air slowly and uniformly in the bell formation until complete closing of the pipe 16 is achieved. Theliquid seal 14 maintains the vacuum in the tank and it is obvious that the rise to a' predetermined level of liquid in the receptacle 21 stops the ilow of liquid from the tank 5, when the level of liquid closes the bell end 1'7 of the pipe 16. The gradual closing of the bell end 1'7 of the pipe 16 prevents undesired disturbances of the liquid. 1

Thus it will be understood that I have provided a device of the character described, which is susceptible of use in many instances where a liquid level controlling device is required asoutlined in the first part of this specification which is'positivein operation, simple in construction and arrangement of parts, is simple and automatic in operation requiring no skilled attention, has a small number rugged parts and is highly satisfactory in operation and admirably suited for the purposes for which it is designed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A liquid dispenser of the type adapted to maintain a constant level of liquid in a discharge receptacle at a distance therefrom, comprising an airtight tank of the type having a U-shaped filler pipe and a glass gauge adapted to have its communication with the tank liquid sealed," a discharge pipe having on its end within the tank a liquid seal formation and on its end exterior of the tank a hand valve for discharging when the valve is open, into said discharge receptacle, a vent pipe leading from the top of the tank to a point within said discharge receptacle and having on its lowerend a bell provided in its lower edge with. vertical air slots into which fluid in the discharge receptacle is adapted to rise to gradually seal the lower end of the vent pipe whereby to prevent further ingress of air into the tank so as to stop the flow of liquid from the discharge pipe into said receptacle.

' 2. In an automatic liquid dispensing device having an airtight tank provided with a valved discharge pipe incorporating a liquid seal means and adapted to be extended a distance from the tank, a U--shaped filler pipe within the tank and a visible open-ended liquid level gauge "means provided with liquid seal means, automatic means for controlling at a distance from the'tank the discharge of liquid from said discharge pipe, comprising, an air intake'pipe communicated with the upper part of said tank, a receptacle toreceive the discharged liquid from said discharge pipe, said air intake pipe being extended from the tank and'the'lower end thereof placed in said receptacle whereby the rise of discharged fluid in the receptacle will close the lower end ofthe air intake pipe andprevent further ingress of air into the tank so as to stop the flow of liquid from said discharge pipe, the lower end of said air intake pipe being expanded'into the form of a bell provided with vertical slots in its lower edge for bringing about the gradual closing of the lower end of the air'intake pipe by the'liquid in the receptacle in a manner to prevent regurgitationof the liquid.

RUSSELL R. MOKLER. 

